Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone and Its Analogues: Significance for MSCs-Mediated Angiogenesis

Figure 1

Cellular effects of GHRH analogues. GHRH is secreted by the hypothalamus and binds to GHRH-Rs on the pituitary to stimulate secretion of GH and downstream activity of IGF-1. GHRH and its agonists can bind directly to GHRH-Rs on multiple cell types of endocrine and nonendocrine origin. Signaling pathways that are activated by GHRH and its agonists include AC/cAMP/PKA, Ras/Raf/ERK, PI3K/Akt, and STAT3. Mediation through these signaling pathways leads to enhanced cell survival, proliferation, and secretion of cytokines. GHRH antagonists inhibit these pathways by competitively binding to the GHRH-R.